Our History<\/h5>Serving As a Voice for Christ in the Flint Community for over 6 Decades<\/h6><\/div>[vc_empty_space alter_height=”medium” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”1″ hide_on_tablet=”1″ hide_on_mobile=”1″]Get involved<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>[\/vc_column][vc_column icons_position=”left” offset=”vc_col-lg-7 vc_col-md-7″][vc_empty_space alter_height=”small” hide_on_desktop=”1″ hide_on_notebook=”1″ hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_single_image image=”2399″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column icons_position=”left”][vc_empty_space hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][vc_column_text]On December 2, 1956, a group of Pastors convened at 3:00 p.m. at 1159 E. Foss Avenue for the purpose of organizing a Baptist Church. After the church had been duly organized, Rev. L.W. Pryor opened the doors of the church for membership. The very first members were Brother Preston Johnson, Sister Jean Simpkins, and Rev. and Mrs. Avery Aldridge.\u00a0 It was also motioned and fully supported that the name of the church be the Foss Avenue Missionary Baptist Church.<\/p>\nFoss Avenue\u2019s first sanctuary was the wood-frame house in which the organizational meeting took place. In March 30, 1958, the church marched into its brand new sanctuary next door.\u00a0 On March 22, 1964, the church was re-built and re-dedicated, adding an east wing and a Fellowship Hall in the basement.\u00a0 In 1969, a west wing was added to the original sanctuary.\u00a0 In 1981, Foss Avenue Baptist Church became the first African American church to build a stand-alone Activity Center.\u00a0 In 1989, a $1.5 million state-of-the-art sanctuary was constructed.<\/p>\n
During the era of social unrest in the 1960\u2019s, Foss Avenue served at the forefront of the movement for political empowerment of African Americans when Dr. Aldridge founded the powerful Concerned Pastors for Social Action.\u00a0 He later played a vital part in establishing the CPSA Courier, a faith-based, African American owned newspaper.<\/p>\n
Foss Avenue\u2019s \u201cVoice for Christ in the Community\u201d began to grow louder when it established the Foss Avenue Credit Union (1969) and Foss Avenue Dairy Queen.\u00a0 In 1976, a Christian School was founded, and in 1996, the Eagle\u2019s Nest Day Care Center was established.<\/p>\n
In 2002, Pastor Avery Aldridge fell ill and his son, Minister Derrick Aldridge, became the pastor of Foss Avenue Baptist Church.\u00a0 Foss Avenue\u2019s organizer and visionary went home to be with the Lord on November 1, 2003.\u00a0 Minister Derrick Aldridge resigned as Pastor of Foss Avenue in 2006.\u00a0 In September 2006, Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Austin, Pastor Emeritus of Zion Baptist Church in Saginaw, was appointed to serve as Pastoral Administrator of Foss Avenue, pending the appointment of a permanent pastor.<\/p>\n
In May 2008, the Lord sent another visionary leader to shepherd His flock at Foss Avenue, Dr. Reginald G. Flynn. Under Dr. Flynn\u2019s leadership Foss Avenue Baptist Church was able to eliminate over 1.9 million dollars of debt and in June of 2021 we burned the mortgage.\u00a0 In October of 2022 after a little over 14 years of Service Dr. Flynn retired.<\/p>\n
In January 2023, the Lord sent Dr. Brian C. Frelix, a visionary leader, to shepherd His flock at Foss Avenue. During Dr. Frelix\u2019s first year as pastor, Foss added 27 new members to the church roll and performed 7 baptisms. Dr. Frelix established a fresh perspective with the motto \u201cLove, Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency.\u201d The church continues to move as Christ directs while building His kingdom and continuing to \u201cEmbrace The Legacy\u201d of Dr. Aldridge.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”huge” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” hide_bg_image_on_tablet=”” hide_bg_image_on_mobile=”” shape_divider_top_front=”” shape_divider_bottom_front=”” row_delimiter=”” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=”” hide_on_frontpage=”” css=”.vc_custom_1528108511613{background-color: #f5f4f2 !important;}”][vc_column icons_position=”left”][vc_empty_space alter_height=”medium” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””]
Foss Avenue Missionary Baptist Church<\/h2>Our Pastor<\/h6><\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thecompguys.com\/fossavenue\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/PastorBrian_n-270x343.jpg\")
Foss Avenue\u2019s first sanctuary was the wood-frame house in which the organizational meeting took place. In March 30, 1958, the church marched into its brand new sanctuary next door.\u00a0 On March 22, 1964, the church was re-built and re-dedicated, adding an east wing and a Fellowship Hall in the basement.\u00a0 In 1969, a west wing was added to the original sanctuary.\u00a0 In 1981, Foss Avenue Baptist Church became the first African American church to build a stand-alone Activity Center.\u00a0 In 1989, a $1.5 million state-of-the-art sanctuary was constructed.<\/p>\n
During the era of social unrest in the 1960\u2019s, Foss Avenue served at the forefront of the movement for political empowerment of African Americans when Dr. Aldridge founded the powerful Concerned Pastors for Social Action.\u00a0 He later played a vital part in establishing the CPSA Courier, a faith-based, African American owned newspaper.<\/p>\n
Foss Avenue\u2019s \u201cVoice for Christ in the Community\u201d began to grow louder when it established the Foss Avenue Credit Union (1969) and Foss Avenue Dairy Queen.\u00a0 In 1976, a Christian School was founded, and in 1996, the Eagle\u2019s Nest Day Care Center was established.<\/p>\n
In 2002, Pastor Avery Aldridge fell ill and his son, Minister Derrick Aldridge, became the pastor of Foss Avenue Baptist Church.\u00a0 Foss Avenue\u2019s organizer and visionary went home to be with the Lord on November 1, 2003.\u00a0 Minister Derrick Aldridge resigned as Pastor of Foss Avenue in 2006.\u00a0 In September 2006, Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Austin, Pastor Emeritus of Zion Baptist Church in Saginaw, was appointed to serve as Pastoral Administrator of Foss Avenue, pending the appointment of a permanent pastor.<\/p>\n
In May 2008, the Lord sent another visionary leader to shepherd His flock at Foss Avenue, Dr. Reginald G. Flynn. Under Dr. Flynn\u2019s leadership Foss Avenue Baptist Church was able to eliminate over 1.9 million dollars of debt and in June of 2021 we burned the mortgage.\u00a0 In October of 2022 after a little over 14 years of Service Dr. Flynn retired.<\/p>\n
In January 2023, the Lord sent Dr. Brian C. Frelix, a visionary leader, to shepherd His flock at Foss Avenue. During Dr. Frelix\u2019s first year as pastor, Foss added 27 new members to the church roll and performed 7 baptisms. Dr. Frelix established a fresh perspective with the motto \u201cLove, Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency.\u201d The church continues to move as Christ directs while building His kingdom and continuing to \u201cEmbrace The Legacy\u201d of Dr. Aldridge.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space alter_height=”huge” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” hide_bg_image_on_tablet=”” hide_bg_image_on_mobile=”” shape_divider_top_front=”” shape_divider_bottom_front=”” row_delimiter=”” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=”” hide_on_frontpage=”” css=”.vc_custom_1528108511613{background-color: #f5f4f2 !important;}”][vc_column icons_position=”left”][vc_empty_space alter_height=”medium” hide_on_desktop=”” hide_on_notebook=”” hide_on_tablet=”” hide_on_mobile=””]
Foss Avenue Missionary Baptist Church<\/h2>Our Pastor<\/h6><\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/thecompguys.com\/fossavenue\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/FirstLadyTya_n-270x343.jpg\")